Re: [Videolib] postcards - a plea for sanity

"Unfortunately, since different people prefer different methods, we most often end up trying to use them all . . . "

Exactly.  The iron rule of marketing:  cast a wide net and cast it repeatedly.  That’s why we'll keep getting the stuff we're getting now and probably more of it in the future.  Reality check:  the marketing that looks sloppy and wasteful to us makes perfect sense to the seller.

Peter Cartford

AV Librarian

Johnson County Library

9875 W. 87th St.

Overland Park, KS 66212

913-495-2496

cartfordp@jocolibrary.org

-----Original Message-----
From: videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Alex Williams
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 12:52 PM
To: Gary Handman
Subject: Re: [Videolib] postcards - a plea for sanity

As a distributor, I appreciate this discussion too; we always like to know what works and what doesn't when trying to get the word out about our new films. Unfortunately, since different people prefer different methods, we most often end up trying to use them all, ie—a new complete catalog every year or so— with supplemental emails and occasional postcards for new releases (hereafter, we'll be attempting to qualify for Matt Bailey's bulliten board) as well as sending titles to Video Librarian and Educational Media Reviews Online for review. Though some people find the emails and postcards annoying, it's impossible for us to print and send a new full catalog each time we pick up a new film. I can imagine that the multiple copies/duplicate mailing list thing gets annoying, and it's something we're currently working on...

Alex

_________________

Alex O. Williams

Festival Bookings & Institutional Sales

AFD / Typecast Films

Seattle, WA . USA

ph: 206.322.0882 x.202 | fx: 206.322.4586

arabfilm.com | typecastfilms.com

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RE:

I wasn't sure when I sent this what the reaction would be, but I think it's producing a good, healthy discussion about our selection processes.  I'm finding it interesting, and I imagine new video librarians on the list would as well.  And even though we all seem to have our own individual methods, I think the distributors will find this discussion useful as well. 

Vicki

VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.